The Fellowship Program

Each summer, Ox-Bow awards fellowships to thirteen students from competitive art schools and departments all over the nation. These students live on campus for the duration of the summer season, from June 1 - September 1, where they participate in campus life as both staff members and as artists.

Fellowship students are selected by their departments or schools on the merit of their work and on their commitment to making inspired and innovative art. During their stay at Ox-Bow, fellowship students are able to reinforce their commitments to artmaking, and benefit from the intense focus and the access to professional artists that life at Ox-Bow provides.

The fellowship students have an invaluable opportunity to focus on their work, meet with renowned artists, and grow as a member of this unique community. Fellowship students can audit one two-week course or two one-week courses (when space and time allows); receive studio space; a weekly stipend; free room/board; access to visiting artists for critiques; and the opportunity to exhibit their work.

Ox-Bow encourages fellows to seek out as many one-on-one critiques as possible; to spend a minimum of 10 hours a week in their studios; and to attend at least 15 slide lectures over the course of the summer. Throughout the summer, fellows are encouraged to organize their own group critiques, as each fellow shows their work in the Ox-Bow gallery. Additionally, all fellows will participate in a special Critique Weekend on July 20th, when Ox-Bow will host two Visiting Artists and Critics on campus who will meet with the fellowship students both for individual and group critiques. In 2008, Lisa Wainwright and Marianetta Porter will join Ox-Bow’s Resident Academic Director, Phil Hanson, in leading the critique weekend.

Fellowship students also participate in campus life as staff. Fellows begin working full-time at Ox-Bow one week prior to the start of programming on facilities maintenance, housekeeping, or grounds maintenance. During the 11-week season, fellows work alongside of the regular staff for just 20 hours per week on jobs ranging from dishwashing to office work. This minimal work commitment is designed so that fellows may make the most of their time in their studios at Ox-Bow. By working closely with the artists on staff, fellows develop relationships with others who have also made artmaking their lives. These close friendships provide not only inspiration, but also encourage mutual respect, honesty, and challenge when discussing art.

The fellowship program should be viewed as a once in a lifetime opportunity to be entirely focused as an artist within the sanctuary of Ox-Bow. We encourage all students to take full advantage of the program.

OX-BOW FELLOWSHIPS FOR SAIC GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Ox-Bow offers three fellowships to graduate and undergraduate degree-seeking students from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

OX-BOW FELLOWSHIP FOR DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENTS FROM ANY SCHOOL
Ox-Bow will also offer two positions to students from any degree-granting institution (including SAIC). Students should be in their junior year or older and currently enrolled in a degree program in the visual arts.

Applications are due on February 29, 2008.

Click here to down load the application to be a fellow at Ox-Bow in 2008.

2007 Fellowship Recipients

  • Ashleigh Burskey, Kansas City Art Institute
  • Nathan Dorotiak, Grand Valley State University
  • Monica Gonzalo, Rhode Island School of Design
  • Geoffrey Hamerlinck, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • Taylor Kurrle, College for Creative Studies
  • Teruko Nimura, University of Texas- Austin
  • Kari Rinn, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Stuart Snoddy, Herron School of Art
  • Amy Stibich, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • Victor Sun, Pratt Institute
  • Liz Tubergen, Covenant College
  • Caroline Woolard, Cooper Union
  • Vanesa Zendejas, School of the Art Institute of Chicago